Create’s chief and board step down

Former businesswoman of the year, Ms Dunwell set up Create in 2007 to provide disadvantaged people with work and training opportunities in the food industry.

As previously reported by the Yorkshire Post, however, the business has recently run into financial difficulties and was forced to close its flagship restaurant on King Street in Leeds in February.

Now the company has announced that Ms Dunwell and the rest of the board at Create are stepping down.

Ged Syddall, boss of a Warrington-based firm called Elmfield Training, has also taken full control of the Create operation. Mr Syddall has been a non-executive director at Create since early last year.

Last week it emerged that his Elmfield firm had waived nearly £900,000 owed to it by the social enterprise.

Ms Dunwell said: “Create has done a lot of good things to help disadvantaged people in Yorkshire and produced some really great food along the way.

“The past six years have been an amazing experience for Create and I would like to thank my team and the people of Leeds for all their support. I wish Ged and the new team well.”

Create is preparing to relaunch its King Street restaurant as a “community learning hub”.

Its Wakefield city centre cafe will continue to operate as normal.